Recently, we caught up with Lionel Shaw, founder and president of the EACH foundation. It’s not surprising that Lionel and EACH are big supporters of Juma, given both organizations are so alike when it comes to defying the status quo and reinventing the convention with respective models that are unique, innovative and effective.
Q: When did you get involved with Juma and why?
A: I came across Juma in 2010 through the San Francisco Foundation. I found Juma was unique in its approach: it was helping bridge the gap between inner city youth and education and it leveraged the learnings that come from a job to make that link stronger. It adds to what the kids learn in the classroom as it teaches them sales techniques, teamwork, work ethic and leadership. At EACH we like making contributions to organizations that are unique, efficient, impactful and that have proven success.
Q: In your opinion, what are some important aspects of the work that Juma does?
A: It is a combination of good human interactions and the different levels of learning that Juma brings to its youth. On one end, there is the presence of a trusting adult mentor who builds a relationship with each youth. It’s a great first contact with somebody who is caring and empathetic and provides a nurturing environment full of support as youth develop their skillsets. And, as a result, the youth trust that mentor as a guide. Also, the youth interact with others out in the field as they work. This field exposure is very rewarding – the youth roll up their sleeves, and develop soft skills. It’s very entrepreneurial.
Q: What contribution or achievement makes you most proud?
A: Proud of seeing notable corporations and other groups in the community recognize and support Juma. Positive PR, great. Proud of greater bandwidth. Growth trajectory on the upswing. Gaining traction and recognition in areas that are broader in scope and scale.
Q: What do you hope Juma will achieve in the near future? In the long term?
A: Multiplier effect of the concepts—more individuals, broader footprint, perhaps out of the ballpark, include small venues – continue to apply the skills and the model in other venues. Music festivals. Museums. Opera. Expand to other enrichment of youth in the city and Bay Area beyond athletics. [We couldn’t agree more. Stay tuned for new developments in future newsletters.]
Q: Do you have an anecdote about Juma that really moved you?
A: One thing that struck me was a fundraising event a few years ago—one of the first fundraiser events. Marc had a few testimonials from the youth. The testimonials were gripping and moving. Also, one time I visited the Juma commissary at AT&T Park and met a manager—very competent. Had a good time witnessing the setup and got a preview of the team discussion huddle prior to starting the work. The pregame huddle was well organized and inspiring. The youth were eager and really focused. Found it enlightening. 10-15 kids and a leader with a good action plan. It was a heartening moment.
Q: Do you have a message to share?
A: The EACH Foundation and how we interact with Juma—a lot of our advisors are people who don’t have the ability to give, somewhat similarly aligned to some of the youth that Juma serves. In giving to Juma, our philanthropic advisors see a very close connection. Keep up the good work. Juma is a great organization. Our volunteers identify much with the Juma mentality of the youth beneficiaries. And can relate. We are aligned with understanding the human condition and benefiting the community and getting them off the ground into a higher standing personally, socially and financially.
(This interview has been condensed and edited for space.)
